How do I build a shipsmodel.

Undoubtedly there are several ways to build a model, and I am open to modifications.

I proceed as follows:

Use good drawings, preferably shipyard’s drawings with a timber-ribs and linear plan and a general view drawing. For details photos are essential.

Select the necessary ribs for the hull, draw them on 6mm triplex and saw them out.
At average I saw 15 to 20 ribs out, which are glued on the hull at exact distances. For this you have to take the distances of the ribs as shown on the drawing.
I make the ribs with 3 cm (or more) extra; then turn everything upside-down.
After that laths of birch-triplex (7 mm width by 3 thickness) are glued and nailed to the ribs.
Note that the main-deck, port-deck and possibly the raised poop-deck should be marked on the  timber-ribs.

When the hull has been planked, the excess of 3 cm or more of the timber-ribs are sawn off and the hull is turned over. Now the hull is shown in rough shape.

The deck is placed.

To strengthen the hull I wipe the whole with laminate-resin and fibreglass mats. After that the hull is primed and the great sandpapering can start.
This sandpapering I do wet.

Construction, deck-houses and hatch-coamings I make of print-plates. Print-plate can be worked very well and can be soldered blindly (on the inside).
The negative thing about print-plate is that it cannot be bent. If bending is necessary I use thin copper plate.

When the hull is nice and smooth it is sprayed in the right colour. A thin plate (0,1 to 0,2 mm) is glued on the wooden deck to make it tight.
For this I use a print-plate or aluminium plate.

Masts and derricks are generally made of messing pipe. When, however, masts have a tapered or other shape, I use plastic. I try to make as much as possible myself, but boats are bought. (For these I would have to make casting-moulds.)  Before all parts are sprayed in the right colour, everything is sprayed in a good metal-primer for good bonding. Subsequently everything is assembled at the right spot.

The ship is placed on a base using 2 messing barrels of 2 cm height.

The base is sealed with lacquer.

A specialised business takes care of a plexiglass hood as cover against dust. Finally I have a small plate engraved with all the details of the ship, after which I have to find a suitable spot in the house to greatly start enjoying the result.

That is the way I build a ship, preferably one on which I sailed myself, or another nice ship of the fifties and sixties, when nice ships were still built.

 

BUILDING SHIPMODELS,  A HELL OF A HOBBY.